Before making a World Cup betting pick on Germany, players should know that the Germans have a host of injuries to some pretty important members of the squad.  The same situation is raising its head in the NBA’s Western Conference playoffs this year as Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers have a couple of injury worries that could have an effect on the series.

The Lakers have had a close eye on the status of Andrew Bynum’s knee, which has gotten worse throughout the playoffs.  The young center averaged 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in 65 games, and he averaged 30.4 minutes during the regular season, but all of his numbers are down ahead of the Lakers’ Game 4 meeting with the Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix as Bynum has put up 9.4 points and 7.8 boards in the playoffs, and his minutes have gone down to 24.8.  Over the first three games of the Phoenix series, Bynum has 6.3 points and 4.3 boards in 15.0 minutes of play, and he was limited to only eight minutes in Game 3.  The Lakers’ big advantage in this NBA betting matchup is their size, and even though they have enough with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, their job would be a lot easier if Bynum was at 100%.

World Cup Group D betting players will liken Germany losing captain Michael Ballack to Phoenix losing Steve Nash, but at least the Suns will get to go through the playoffs with their star.  Nash had his nose broken when he collided with Derek Fisher in Game 3, and he will have surgery before Game 4.  This is the second blow that Nash has suffered in this postseason as he was elbowed above the eye by San Antonio’s Tim Duncan in the last round, but Nash came back in that game to score 10 points in the fourth quarter of a win.  Nash is the unquestioned leader of the Suns, and his loss to Phoenix would be far greater than that of Bynum and Los Angeles.  The two-time MVP has averaged 16.8 points and 10.2 assists in the playoffs, and his ability to drive and dish opens up the floor for the rest of the Suns, especially for Amare Stoudamire.  The power forward had 42 points in the Suns’ 118-109 win in Game 3, and a lot of those came off of running the pick-and-roll with Nash, something that the whole league has had trouble stopping all season.  The Suns are already behind the eight-ball going against the defending NBA champions, but they have a great chance to tie the series at two games apiece on Tuesday night, and their online sports betting odds are much better with Nash in the lineup.

Any online betting or World Cup betting option that gets a performance from their star like the Los Angeles Lakers got from Kobe Bryant in the opening game of their Western Conference final, and they can prepare themselves for a title celebration as the Lakers’ star shredded Phoenix on Monday night.  The series resumes on Wednesday night, and the Suns have to find a way to contain Bryant.

Suns Lakers Betting – Wednesday, May 19, 9:00 PM ET

Bryant hit 13 of his 23 field-goal attempts en route to 40 points in a 128-107 win over the Suns, and he added five rebounds and five assists as well.  Pau Gasol was 10-of-13 from the field for 21 points, while Lamar Odom added 19 points and 19 boards for the Lakers, who shot an outlandish 58% from the field.  The Lakers also used their length to outrebound the Suns 42-34, and they took excellent care of the ball with only nine turnovers.  Sure, the Lakers gave up 107 points, but that comes with the territory when you play the Suns.  The Lakers kept the Suns from getting to their spots on the floor, and they were especially good in preventing Phoenix from getting out in the open floor.

The Suns were led by 23 points from Amare Stoudamire, but he had just three rebounds on the night.  Jason Richardson had 15 points, while Steve Nash added 13 points and 13 boards for the Suns, who missed 17 of their 22 attempts from beyond the arc.  The Suns tried to be aggressive, getting to the foul line 10 more times than the Lakers, and this kept it from being a total rout, but Phoenix looked overmatched in this contest.

The Lakers should be favored by NBA betting odds in this contest, as they have now won five in a row at the Staples Center over the Suns, and seven of the last 10 home games overall.  The Suns got Robin Lopez back, but he alone can’t stop the Lakers from getting into the post.  Gasol and Odom were able to do whatever they wanted in the interior, which created space for Bryant on the perimeter, and it just so happened that Bryant was feeling it from the outside on Monday night.  The Suns are going to have to ratchet up their intensity on the defensive end of the floor, or else this is going to be a short, short series.  The Lakers didn’t even need to get Andrew Bynum going, and that’s a sign of the Lakers’ superiority in this series.  It’s not looking good for the Suns to even go home tied at one game each.
Sports betting pick: Los Angeles Lakers

Online betting fans know that Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash may be making World Cup predictions, as both have backgrounds in the beautiful game.  First, they’re going to have to focus on their day jobs, which is leading their team to the NBA Finals as Bryant and the Lakers will take on Nash and the Suns in a series that tips off next Monday at 9:00 PM ET under the bright lights of Los Angeles.

Suns vs Lakers Betting

The Suns finally got rid of the biggest thorn in their side when they swept San Antonio, who had eliminated the Suns in four previous postseason meetings.  Nash was out of control in this series, averaging 22.0 points and 7.8 assists, and he put up 20 and nine assists with a right eye that was basically swollen shut by a Tim Duncan elbow in the series-clinching game.  Amare Stoudamire was next with 20.5 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Suns, who are even playing a bit of defense to go with their run-and-gun offense.  Stoudamire put up 20.3 points and 8.8 boards in four games against the Lakers this year, while Nash is going to have to continue his fine playoff run if the suns are going to overcome the NBA playoff betting odds as he has just 13.8 points and 9.0 assists against the Lakers.

The Lakers are coming off their own sweep as they made short work of Utah in the second round, and now they’re in the Western conference finals for the third straight year.  Bryant bounced back from a tough first round against Oklahoma City to average 32.0 points against the Jazz, while Pau Gasol was next with 23.5 points and 14.5 rebounds for the Lakers, who won three of four against the Suns this season.  Bryant notched 27.5 points in those four games, while Andrew Bynum put up 17.8 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Lakers.

If you’re looking to bet NBA, the Lakers are favored at -300 to advance to the NBA Finals, and as we said before, they took three of four from the Suns this year.  But they’ll also have some revenge on their mind as the Suns eliminated the Lakers in the first round in 2006 and 2007.  The Lakers have a massive advantage in the post as Bynum and Gasol, as well as Lamar Odom, should be able to have their way inside, but they’ll also going to have defend the pick-and-roll that Nash and Stoudamire have used so well this year.  The Lakers’ bench is also going to have to step up because the Phoenix bench played brilliantly against the Spurs.  However, the Lakers’ championship experience should guide them to a sports betting win six games in this series.

After blowing the early sports betting lead against the Cavaliers in Game One, a game in which they led by 11 points in the first half, Boston made sure it would not make the same mistake in Game Two. The Celtics cruised to an 18-point win to earn a well-deserved road split heading back to Massachusetts for the next two.

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics

Friday May 7, 2010 – 7:00 PM ET

NBA Basketball Betting Odds: Cleveland -120

The Celtics parlayed a four-point lead at halftime in to an 18-point win, looking dominant at times. Rajon Rondo was absolutely dominant at the point, directing the Boston offense while scoring 13 points and contributing 19 assists. Six Celtics players reached double figures, led by Ray Allen’s 22 points while shooting better than 50-percent from the field. That number was reached by the rest of the team as well, as Boston’s combined field goal percentage was 51.3-percent, including a 47.3-percent mark from beyond the arc. Kendrick Perkins led all Celtics with a plus-22 mark while on the floor, limiting the effect of Cavaliers’ center Shaquille O’Neal, as the four-time champion finished with just nine points and four assists.

Despite a sore elbow, Lebron James was his usual self, dropping 24 points, but he didn’t get much help from his supporting cast. After an outstanding Game One performance that helped the Cavaliers take Game One, guard Delonte West hit just one field goal in Game Two, finishing with just four points. As a team Cleveland shot just 40-percent. The Cavaliers were out rebounded 30 to 17, and were consistently outplayed down low. The starting backcourt tandem of Anthony Parker and Mo Williams shot a combined 3-for-16, and unless that changes when the series shifts to Boston, the Cavaliers will have an uphill climb to get back to the Eastern conference finals.

One area that could be the biggest concern for the Cavaliers will be the form of reserve center Anderson Varajeo, who left Game Two with back spasms. The Celtics may attack Cleveland down low with purpose in an effort to exploit the limitations of a thin bench of big men behind O’Neal and Varajeo, so bet Celtics

NBA Playoff Betting Pick: Boston + 110

Betting Lines: Over/ Under 190

Each of the opening two games in this series have at least hit the line for the over/under heading in to Game Three, and with the Celtics heading back home, these teams could hit an even higher number when the series shifts to Boston. In the two regular season games played between these teams at the TD BankNorth Gardens, the totals for the game were 230 and 196. While the Cavaliers have proven that they can score big no matter where they are playing, Boston plays a much better offensive game in front of its home crowd. Lebron James understands that his team can’t afford to fall behind two games heading back home, and after two slow starts to open the series, should come out flying in Game Three.

Pick: Over -190